Wii UK launch line-up

[Wii] 58 real and virtual titles by Christmas

Wednesday 1 November 2006 Nintendo has announced the list of games early Wii adopters can be expecting to play by the end of the year, with 27 titles to be available on store shelves, and another 31 Virtual Console games.

Most of the line-up comes from strong third-party support, which should come as a relief to long-time GameCube owners who had to watch most publishers ignore the little purple lunchbox and wait patiently for the next Nintendo-developed wonder-title.

In fact, only three launch games will bear the Nintendo stamp: Wii Sports (packed in with the console), Wii-mote party game Wii Play, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. But it could have just launched with Zelda and we'd still be camping outside in the snow to get one.

Major third-party games include Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, Call of Duty 3, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz and Red Steel. Of the three next-gen console launches, Wii takes the top spot for exclusive games at launch, boasting six games you can't play anywhere else, and then a healthy dozen or so you that you could but you'd be missing out without a Wii-mote and Nunchuk.